Page 22 of Tempting the Player
Two blocks down from the Mall, they dipped into the trendy new diner. Warm air greeted them, as did the faint smell of grease and pricey food. The place was crowded, which made squeezing between the round tables tricky.
“Are we going to get a seat?” Bridget asked, hoping the blister she was getting on the back of her foot wasn’t in vain.
Chase nodded. “I called ahead. We got a booth out back.”
A frown puckered Madison’s face. “I thought this place didn’t do reservations?”
He smiled.
Of course, Bridget realized, no establishment in town would refuse Chase or any of the Gamble brothers. Besides the politicians and drug dealers, the Gamble brothers ran this town.
The roomy booth in the back, caddy corner to a not so surprisingly busy bar, was big enough to seat six comfortably. Madison and Chase took up one side while Bridget slid into the opposite seat, thankful she loathed jackets as she watched Madison mutter under her breath, stand again, and then take off her jacket. A server swung by their table, dropping off plastic-covered menus and taking their drink orders.
“Can I get another water?” Chase asked, spreading an arm along the back of the booth. “We have one more person joining us.”
“Sure,” the waitress replied, smiling.
“We do?” Madison asked once the waitress dashed away to fill the order.
The strangest feeling washed over Bridget. Kind of felt like someone had poked her in the stomach a couple of times as she stared at Chase, praying to every God she knew that he wasn’t going to say what she was fearing.
Chase flipped the menu over. “Yeah, it’s a good thing Richard—”
“Robert,” Madison corrected.
“Didn’t get invited, because Chad texted me on the way here. He’s just a block down, and he’s going to grab something to eat with us.”
Bridget stopped breathing. And then she lost her appetite, just like that. Vanished, replaced by knots twisted more times than a Celtic loop.
Oh no, no no no…this could not be happening.
When she had dashed out of Chad’s luxurious apartment, sans panties, she figured that would be the last she’d see of him in person. They really didn’t run in the same circles, and she had sworn off sexy bars in her future.
She felt sick.
“Great,” Madison said, leaning back against the seat. “Let’s see how long he goes before he gets his picture taken or asked for an autograph.”
The smile that crossed Chase’s face was full of pride. “Hey, he’s the star. Recognize.”
Bridget stopped listening to them as she glanced back through the restaurant and eyed the door. She couldn’t be here. No way was she eating lunch with Chad. Panic blossomed in her belly and crawled up her throat. Good God, she hadn’t even told Shell about what happened, much less Maddie.
There was a good chance she was going to hurl.
What if he recognized her?
What if he didn’t recognize her?
She didn’t know which would be worse.
“Bridget, are you okay?” Concern radiated from Madison’s voice.
Nodding absently, she grabbed her purse. “Yeah, but I just remembered I had this phone call at the office. I…I better get back.”
Madison frowned. “What phone call?”
Uh, yeah, what phone call? “I need to check in with the catering company about desserts for the gala event.”
Madison’s eyes narrowed. “I thought we were waiting to hear back from them.”
